FETHULLAH GULEN CHAIR IN THE STUDY OF ISLAM & MUSLIM-CATHOLIC RELATIONS

The Australian Intercultural Society (AIS) in conjunction with the Australian Catholic University (ACU) held the official launch of the Fethullah Gulen Chair in the Study of Islam and Muslim-Catholic relations last Friday 23 November at the Central Hall, ACU. The launch marks the important step the AIS has taken to establish an important academic professorial Chair that will assist second and third generation Muslims with learning Islam correctly from its true sources, increase academic research in the field of interfaith dialogue and provide a means for community related activities and take the important message of dialogue to the wider Australian community.

Message from the Premier of Victoria John Brumby MP

Many people assisted in the development of the launch, the AIS would like to in particular thank the following:

The Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser, The 30 VIP Guests from Turkey, that included Theologians, Academics, Journalists and Members of Parliament, ACU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Sheehan and Pro-Vice Chancellor Gabrielle McMullen, Monsignor Peter Kenny, Archdiocese of Melbourne, John Willams, State Director, DICA

Fethullah Gulen Chair will not only be the first in the Catholic world but it will also become a prototype in the Islamic and Turkish speaking nations.

The renown Islamic scholar, thinker, poet and peace activist venerable Fethullah Gulen has been proposing solutions to global problems in the name of humanity and the future of the Islamic world for the past 30 years. These days his vision and ideologies are the main focus in many lectures and seminars organized in his name all over the world's universities. The timing of the Australian Catholic University could not have been more perfect as it has decided to establish a Chair in the study of Islam and Muslim-Catholic relations. Australian Catholic University decided to name the chair after Gulen whose vision will become a legacy when his thoughts and suggestions regarding interfaith and intercultural dialogue, and his formulas for rescuing the people of Islam from poverty and lack of education will be applied in the Chair named after him. The Chair in the Study of Islam & Catholic-Muslim Relations aims to conduct extensive research in the field and produce thesis in masters and doctorate level.

The Chair was launch by the Governor of Victoria, Prof David De Kretser with an opening ceremony at the Australian Catholic University.

Amongst the guests were Islamic Scholars, members of the Turkish Parliament, Academicians, members of the media, columnists from international newspapers, also other VIP guests from UAE, UK and Turkey, and directors of large companies who wish to support the chair.

Also participating in the event high level bureaucrats from Melbourne, administers of various universities, religious leaders from various faith communities. Attendees on behalf of the Catholic community were the Chancellor of the Australian Catholic University, Vise-Chancellors, members of the University’s senate, and an elite members of the Catholic society.

The Chair, first of its kind in Australia already became the focus of the Australian Media. Beginning from 2008, it seems that the chair will play a major role with its academic level of research and projects of building solid bridges between the two religions.